Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new task force will be reviewing the plans to build a new bridge over the Columbia River. But it doesn't include any Oregonians. And local officials say the panel won't even be allowed to consider some of the main problems. Governors from Oregon and Washington called for the review of the new I-5 bridge planning because they're worried it’s getting bogged down. Fights over everything from tolls to the number of lanes, have slowed progress. Metro President, David Bragdon, said of the names nominated locally, seven were rejected without explanation and he sees bigger problems. "It certainly looks from the scope and composition of this panel that they will not be allowed to get to the issues that are of concern to the community, which is the system failure at the Rose Quarter, the back-ups and pollution on the streets and arterials of north and northeast portland. And the terrible impacts on Hayden Island," he said.

A spokeswoman from Governor Kulongoski's office said the task force was selected objectively, rather than with geographic concerns. She said both governors want people who haven't been involved in the project so far.  The panel will issue its recommendations this summer.